Directional release toggle latch

Abstract

An elongated latch body has an eyelet on one end, and an open ended clevis shape on the other end. A pair of cooperating, laterally extending, and partially overlapping linkages are pivotally mounted near the open end of the clevis part of the latch body and a U-shaped rocker arm, also mounted within the clevis part of the latch body, controls rotational movement of the linkages.

I claim: 
     
       1. A directional release toggle latch comprising: a pair of cooperating blocks each having an outwardly extending pin and an inwardly extending arm, a yoke shaped latch body to which the arms of the blocks are pivotally connected, means for preventing the blocks from rotating toward the latch body, and means for preventing the blocks from rotating away from the latch body with said body aligned perpendicular to the outward extending pins while permitting such rotation with the latch body aligned at an angle from perpendicular. 
     
     
       2. A directional release toggle latch as in claim 1 wherein the latch body aligned at an angle in excess of about 15 degrees from perpendicular permits rotation of the blocks. 
     
     
       3. A directional release toggle latch as in claim 1 wherein the means for controlling block rotation away from the latch body comprises: a U-shaped rocker arm pivotally mounted within the body with ends of the rocker arm extending to contact the arms to the cooperating blocks with the latch body in the perpendicular position, and extending past one of the arms of the blocks with the latch body pivoted away from the perpendicular position. 
     
     
       4. A directional release toggle latch comprising: a pair of partially overlapping transverse linkages pivotally mounted to allow rotation in one direction with respect to each other with each linkage having a shoulder to butt against a bracket, and an integral outwardly extending pin to extend through an opening in the bracket; a longitudinal extending latch body having an end clevis shaped to extend outside of and to pin through the pivot point of the linkages; a U-shaped rocker arm pivotally mounted inside the latch body and extending to contact the ends of the overlapping linkages to prevent rotation of said linkages when a pulling force is applied to the latch body in a direction perpendicular to the laterally extending linkages and to move past the end of one of the linkages to permit rotation and removal of the latch from the brackets when a pulling force is applied to the latch body in a direction at an angle away from perpendicular. 
     
     
       5. A directional release toggle latch as in claim 4 wherein the pulling angle for release of the latch is at least about 15 degrees. 
     
     
       6. A directional release toggle latch for fastening together and for quickly releasing from interlocking brackets joining together a sectionalized compartment with the directional release toggle latch comprising; an elongated latch body having an eyelet for fastening to a lanyard on one end of the body and a clevis shaped opposite end; a pair of cooperating transverse linkages each having an outwardly extending shoulder to abut against a bracket, an integral outwardly extending pin to extend through openings in and to join together interlocking brackets, and inwardly extending partially overlapping arms; means for pivotally joining the overlapping arms to the clevis end of the latch body; means for limiting rotation of the block toward the latch body; and a U-shaped rocker arm pivotally mounted within the clevis shaped latch body with ends of the "U" directed to contact and stop rotation of the overlapping arm when tension from the lanyard is applied to the latch body in a direction perpendicular to or within a small angle on either side of perpendicular with respect to the transversely extending cooperating linkages, and to pass by one of the overlapping arms to permit rotation and complete removal of the toggle latch when the tension is applied at a greater angle from perpendicular. 
     
     
       7. A directional release toggle latch as in claim 6 wherein the "U" ends pass by the overlapping arm when the angle of tension exceeds more than about 15 degrees from perpendicular.